JPH09311518A - Method for recycling conductive member - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily recycle a used conductive member by grinding the surface of the conductive member and coating it with an elastic layer or a conductive layer. SOLUTION: The roller-shaped conductive member 1 is rotated in a direction shown by an arrow, and a grinding stone 11 is rotated in a direction shown by an arrow and moved from one end side to the other end side of the member 1 while coming in contact with the surface of the member 1, thereby, the conductive layer 4 is almost ground. Other than grinding in such a system that the grinding stone is moved, grinding in a lump is possible by a wider grinding stone without moving it. After the surface of the member 1 is ground, it is coated with the elastic layer 3 or the conductive layer 4. The layer 3 or 4 is made of material which can be ground by the general grinding stone, for example, rubber or resin or the foaming body thereof can be used. By adding the conductive powder of carbon black, graphite, metal and conductive metal oxide or various kinds of conductive fiber such as single fiber as necessary, conductivity is imparted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of recycling a conductive member in an electrophotographic recording apparatus or the like for applying an electric potential of a predetermined polarity to an object to be charged such as a photosensitive drum or a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electrophotographic recording apparatus which has been widely used in a copying machine, a laser beam printer, etc. is generally provided with a drum-shaped photosensitive member (hereinafter referred to as a photosensitive drum). Is charged and exposed to form an electrostatic latent image, and then toner is attached and developed according to the latent image on the photosensitive drum, and then the toner on the photosensitive drum is used as a recording medium such as recording paper. Then, the photosensitive drum is discharged to a predetermined potential, and the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum is cleaned to prepare for recording next. Further, the toner carried on the recording medium by the transfer is fused and pressed to fix the toner on the recording medium, thereby completing a series of recording operations.

With respect to the photosensitive drum of this electrophotographic recording apparatus, a charging member that applies a predetermined potential to the charging area, a developing member that conveys toner to the photosensitive drum, and a recording medium that has been conveyed to the transfer area are prescribed. A conductive member such as a transfer member for applying an electric potential or a charge removing member for uniformizing the charged area of the photosensitive drum after transfer to a constant electric potential is usually an elastic layer made of at least good conductive rubber and, if necessary, a conductive member. It is known that the surface of the elastic layer is coated with a conductive layer for adjusting the electric resistance of the elastic member and preventing contamination of the photosensitive drum and the recording medium.

In general, these conductive members fulfill their function by applying a voltage while contacting a mating member such as a photosensitive drum, so that the surface condition thereof deteriorates when used for a long period of time. Although there is a problem that the original function cannot be achieved, in such a case, the toner cartridge itself was replaced and a new product was replaced.

However, in response to the recent trend of recycling industrial wastes and the like, there are increasing demands for recycling conductive members used in electrophotographic recording devices. The current situation is that it has not been established yet.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a simple method for recycling conductive members.

[0007]

The method for recycling a conductive member according to claim 1 of the present invention is the method for recycling a conductive member having an elastic layer, wherein after polishing the surface of the conductive member, the elastic layer is removed. It is characterized by coating.

The method for recycling a conductive member according to a second aspect of the present invention is the method for recycling a conductive member having an elastic layer and a conductive layer provided on the surface thereof, after polishing the surface of the conductive member. , Covering the conductive layer.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION That is, the inventors of the present invention have made earnest studies on the above problems, and as a result, paying attention to the surface condition of a conductive member that cannot be used, and polishing the surface of the conductive member. After that, it was found that the used conductive member can be easily recycled by coating the elastic layer or the conductive layer, and the present invention has been completed.

Although it is not clear about this detailed mechanism, the elastic layer or the conductive layer on the surface of the used conductive member may be worn due to friction with the mating member such as the photosensitive drum, or the surface of this conductive layer may be worn. It was discovered that the conductive layer has deteriorated due to long-term application of voltage to the thin portion. Therefore, the present inventors considered that the original function can be restored by modifying the elastic layer or the conductive layer, and conceived to coat the elastic layer or the conductive layer after polishing the surface of the conductive member. It is a thing.

The method of recycling the conductive member of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that although a method of recycling a conductive member having an elastic layer and a conductive layer provided on the surface thereof is exemplified here, the present invention is not limited to this. The method for polishing the surface of the conductive member of the present invention is not particularly limited and generally includes a polishing method such as a wet method or a dry method, but in the present invention, the dry method is preferable from the viewpoint of reducing the number of steps in the subsequent steps. Used for. FIG.
An example of the method for polishing a conductive member of the present invention is shown in FIG. Here, 1 is a conductive member, 2 is a shaft, 3 is an elastic layer, 4 is a conductive layer, 11 is a grindstone, and the roller-shaped conductive member 1 rotates in the direction of the arrow at about 100 rpm. , The grindstone 11 rotates in the direction of the arrow at a speed of about 2000 rpm and moves from one end side to the other end side of the conductive member 1 while contacting the surface of the conductive member 1, thereby substantially polishing the conductive layer 4. To be done. In the present invention, in addition to the above-described method of moving a grindstone, it is also possible to grind with a wider whetstone without moving the grindstones at once.
Further, a polishing method by a wet method in which lubricating oil such as water or oil is sprayed between the grindstone and the conductive layer can also be used.

The shaft 2 may be made of solid or hollow resin or metal.

The elastic layer 3 is not particularly limited as long as it is a material that can be abraded by a general grindstone. For example, rubber or resin or foams thereof can be used, and if necessary, carbon black or graphite. To impart conductivity by adding various conductive fibers such as conductive powder of metal, conductive metal oxide (tin oxide, titanium oxide, etc.), carbon fiber, and short fiber of metal oxide. You can

The conductive layer 4 is not particularly limited as long as it can be polished by a general grindstone. For example, rubber, resin, or foams thereof can be used, and if necessary, carbon black or graphite. To impart conductivity by adding various conductive fibers such as conductive powder of metal, conductive metal oxide (tin oxide, titanium oxide, etc.), carbon fiber, and short fiber of metal oxide. You can

Next, the method of coating the surface of the polished conductive member with the conductive layer is not particularly limited, and may be a spray method, a roll coater method or a dipping method, an extrusion method, a method of coating a shrink tube, or the like. It is formed.

[0016]

As described above, the used conductive member can be easily recycled by polishing the surface of the conductive member and then coating the elastic layer or the conductive layer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of a method for polishing a conductive member of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Conductive member 2: Shaft 3: Elastic layer 4: Conductive layer 11: Whetstone

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A method for recycling a conductive member having an elastic layer, comprising polishing the surface of the conductive member and then coating the elastic layer. 2. A method for recycling a conductive member having an elastic layer and a conductive layer provided on the surface thereof, wherein the surface of the conductive member is polished and then the conductive layer is coated. How to recycle materials.